Responses from Manufacturers: 2010 Round-Up

Due to various reasons, I was unable to update this blog during the fall/winter of 2010. This post will provide you with all the responses I received from product manufacturers, but did not yet post. As before, I will include the contact date to provide you with a point of reference. Should you contact them yourselves, and receive a different response (now they are safe, or now they aren’t safe, please write and let me know!).

Unfortunately, we don’t sell any ingredients for making gluten free beer with our kit. Beer is made from cereal grains, of course, and gluten free beer is specially made with other ingredients, like sorghum. That being said, it’s generally pretty hard to find gluten free beer itself, never mind the ingredients, so I wouldn’t even be sure where to direct you. However, we do have other types of kits that are gluten free: our hard cider kit and hard cider standard refills and fruit refills makes a fermented apple cider that is delicious, and is gluten free. (Some of the advanced cider recipes actually call for a UME, and those are the only exception.) We also sell root beer kits that are completely gluten free as well. I’d be happy to help you place an order if you like, or to answer any further questions. Just let me know!

Cheers~

Brianna C. Customer ServiceMR.BEER®800-852-4263 www.mrbeer.com

President Cheese: October 14, 2010

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding the presence of gluten in our products. Many of the products we manufacture are from ingredients considered to be gluten free, but we cannot make such a claim at this time for our finished products.The grain and starches currently used in our products are allowed for people with gluten intolerance concerns (for more information, please visit the website for the Gluten Intolerance Group, www.gluten.net) but changes may occur that could affect a gluten-free claim.We are aware of the special needs of some of our consumers and if the ability to monitor ingredients to ensure a gluten-free product becomes available, we would consider a gluten free claim at that time.

Sincerely,

Joyce LaRocheQuality Assurance Specialistjoyce.laroche@lactalis.us

Premier Foods: October 6, 2010

Thank for your recent email regarding Sarson’s Malt Vinegar.

Because of the process vinegar goes through, it can be classed as suitable for coeliacs as there is less than 20 parts per million.

We do hope that this information is of use to you and thank you once again for taking the time and trouble to contact us.

Here at Sara Lee, we have a ‘truth in labeling policy’. Anytime there is a gluten-containing ingredient in one of our products, the ingredient will be listed on the ingredient label. As we do not print a gluten-free list, we recommend checking the label every time for any ingredients your physician has told you to stay away from. We never hide gluten-containing ingredients in general listings such as flavorings or spices.

Again, thank you for your interest in our company. We appreciate your patronage. Should you have any comments or questions in the future, please contact us via our website at www.saralee.com or by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-925-3326. Our representatives are available Monday-Friday between the hours of 7am and 6pm CST.

Sincerely,

JulieSara Lee Consumer Affairs Representative

I have eaten this product after receiving this reply. No problems to report.

All our pickled vegetables are gluten free and there is no MSG and any glutamic acid .We are producing our vegetable preserves from fresh vegetables using only natural simple ingredients as beet sugar, salt, spirit vinegar and spices as black pepper, bay leaf, allspice,dill horseradish,garlic. In some products we have mustard seeds as spice but everythink is on the label

We invite you to buy and you high qualoty of our products made according to the old good recipies

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We always enjoy hearing from loyal customers.Yes, Kahlua is gluten free. The processes of distillation should eliminate cereal proteins from distilled spirits drinks and therefore distilled drinks are generally accepted for a gluten-free diet. Please note however, that we cannot offer specific advice, and recommend that the individual should discuss these matters with their medical or dietetic advisors.We appreciate your continued patronage of Kahlua and hope you continue to enjoy our products.

Best regards,Pernod Ricard USA Kahlua Consumer Relations

Chocovine: June 1, 2010

Chocovine is Gluten free.

Ba-Tampte Pickle Products, Inc.: February 19, 2010

How are you? Thank you for your Interest in our products in response to your question all of our products are gluten free, and we use absolutely no preservatives.